Three Rivers (12th CAR) Regiment at Grammmichele Sicily
 

Hello:

Despite having read numerous accounts of action - 15 July/43 I cannot get an exact number of panzers knocked out by Three Rivers, which models or, more importantly whether this was in actual combat i.e. tank on tank or by the Shermans in the main column halted at base of the ridge. Published accounts vary considerably.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated....


Best,


SD

Stephen, maybe I'm too late but Corporal Charles Prieur, veteran to 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment, states:

JULY 15
At 0900 hrs, they reach the town to find it strongly defended by
detachments of the 4th Hermann Goering Flak Regiment.
The Regiment accounts for 2 enemy tanks (one PZKw Mk IV and
one PZKw Mk III) and 3 self-propelled Multiple Flak Guns. The
T.R.R suffers its first casualties: one dead and 10 wounded, as
well as the loss of one tank and three universal carriers. A
sobering baptism of fire.

Daniel G. Dancocks writes in "D-Day Dodgers: Canadians in Italy":

The Three Rivers Regiment -- the only part of the 1st Canadian
Armoured Brigade to be committed to action in the Sicilian
campaign -- meets its first German opposition at Grammichele --
a town perched on a very high hill. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’ Squadrons
are in action on the outskirts.
A Recce troop of the Three Rivers Regiment -- leading the
column -- approaches the town. There is no sign of the enemy.
They are there, nevertheless: detachments of artillery and tanks
of the Hermann Goering Division, biding their time. When the
group reaches the outskirts, there is a sudden spatter of fire
from guns ranging from 20-millimetre to 88-millimetre. ‘A’ Squadron loses one tank by anti -tank fire. During this
morning, Major C.B. van Straubenzee and Lt. Pete Ryckman
move forward with a carrier section of the Recce Troop and
come under heavy observed fire from multiple flak guns that are
dug in on a hillside before the town. Almost immediately, his
scout car is hit and Major van Straubenzee is wounded. He
remains to direct the operation. Lt. Ryckman engages the
enemy gun positions with the .50 Brownings with which the
carriers were equipped, in an effort to destroy them, or, failing
that, point out their positions by tracer-fire. Our tanks in the
immediate vicinity did destroy them, but not before all three
carriers of the Recce Troop were hit and set on fire.
Ten miles from Vizzini, Grammichele was sited on a long 250-
foot-high ridge that commanded Route 124. It was an ideal spot
to set up an ambush, and parts of two battalions from the
Hermann Goering Division were preparing to do precisely that,
as the Canadians approached from the east. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, and the Three
Rivers tank, ran right into the German ambush. It was 0900 hrs,
when the leading troops and tanks of the mile-long column
reached the outskirts of Grammichele where they were greeted
by a sudden storm of shells and machine-gun bullets.
The battle for Grammichele was brief but furious. British selfpropelled
guns put in a timely appearance and gave valuable supporting fire, while the Canadian infantry and tanks attacked.
When two companies of Hasty Ps outflanked the town, the
Germans began withdrawing. By noon, Grammichele had been
cleared of enemy troops, and the Canadians were counting the
cost of this first encounter with a real enemy. The skirmish had
resulted in 25 Canadian casualties; German losses were
unknown, but the Hermann Goerings left behind the
smouldering hulks of three Mark IV medium tanks and several
flak guns.

Hope it helps.

Luigi

Hello, Luigi:

Thanks for the insight. As you likely know, based on your clear knowledge of this event claims went as high as four panzers. Others were three. The recollections of the soldier you quote line up with a Canadian Armoured Corps account that was based on unit War Diary which is, of course likely the most reliable.

What I am/was attempting to nail down was whether these two were knocked out in a direct (close-quarters) exchange of fire or by the tanks in the main body, halted at base of hill. I may never get that answer, of course.

Clouding the matter as well is that 142nd Regiment, Royal Artillery (self-propelled guns) were also engaging targets on summit of feature and claimed kills as well....

Thank you for your help. I had not seen this account, prior to you citing it.

Best,

Stephen Ditner